Page 6 Happening in Hillsdale

Page 3 Welcome New Members

Page 2 A note from the President

Page 1 June Calendar

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Google’s Farmer Update: Why Great Web Content Matters Source: www.fivesparrows.com By now you’ve probably heard of Google’s latest update to its search algorithm (referred to as the “Farmer” update or the “Panda” update) that was intended to knock low-quality “content farms” out of the top search rankings. Apparently, the update was successful in removing a number of annoying, low-quality content farm websites from popping up at the top of the Google search results pages. This is great news for users who want better, more

relevant search results, and also for businesses and organizations that already provide high-quality, useful content on their sites.

Knocking Out Content Farms Content farms are typically defined as websites with very little original content, or sites

that contain mostly “shallow, low-quality” content. This includes certain types of content writing services, article directories, and the websites and e-newsletters that re-publish this type of pre-canned content. This content is now being flagged in Google, so it can be dropped in the search results in favor of

sites that publish useful, high-quality content; especially original content.

URL Blocking

Google is getting serious about rewarding websites that publish top-quality content, and the Farmer update was just one of the recent initiatives Google has implemented toward that goal.

Last week, Google also added a new feature that lets users actually block websites that they do not want included in their search results, called URL Blocking.

To use URL Blocking, a user must be logged into his or her Google account, and then perform a search.

Continued on page: 4

June 2011

Page 1

June Chamber Calendar of Events

*** indicates all may attend June 7

Car Show Meeting Chamber Office

6:30 PM

June 14 Car Show Meeting

Chamber Office 6:30 PM

June 15

Chamber Board of Directors Meeting 7:30 AM

Chamber Office

June 16*** Tools for Success Seminar

9:00 AM Hillsdale County ISD

310 West Bacon Rd. - Hillsdale

June 21 Car Show Meeting

Chamber Office 6:00 PM

June 23***

Hello Hillsdale County Lunch 11:45 AM

June 23***

Chamber Chat on WCSR 10:45 AM

June 25 & 26***

20th Annual Hillsdale County Car Show & Summerfest

Hillsdale County Fairgrounds 8 AM - Midnight - Saturday

10 AM - 5 PM - Sunday

WIN THIS CAR!!! 

This Sassy Grass Green  1972 Plymouth Duster will be  raffled off at the 20th Annual  Car Show & Summerfest on  

June 26, 2011.   

If you would like to have this car on display at your business, please contact the  C hamber at (517) 437‐6401 or via e‐mail to 

jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com   

Tickets are $10 each, 3for $20,  9 for $50 and 25 for $100 

Reminder: Tickets have been mailed to our

members. All members who return all 9 tickets sold by June 8, 2011 will be entered

into a drawing to win a free Chamber

Page 2

Dear Chamber Member, I can not believe June is already here! Where does time go? This is a very busy time for us at the Chamber as we have many projects we are working on. The 20th Annual Hillsdale County Car Show & Summerfest and classic car raffle is around the corner. We are in need of volunteers and sponsors. The sponsorship list is included in this newsletter. If you are interested in volunteering on June 25 or June 26, please give us a call. Please consider buying or

selling your classic car raffle tickets and return them to our office by June 8. This is our main fundraiser which helps sustain our operations and we appreciate your continued support. Any member that returns their sold tickets will be entered into a drawing for a 2012 membership. We are partnering with the Hillsdale County EDP to bring a Tools For Success seminar to our community on June 16 from 9 AM - 12 Noon at the Hillsdale County ISD. We have four speakers lined up who will present information on front office inefficiencies, global competition, lifting techniques and HUB zones as well as many other topics. This seminar is geared for all types of businesses and is free of charge. Additional information can be found on page 5. We also will be hosting two other seminars in August (customer service and employee handbooks). Our annual golf outing will be held August 5 at White Oaks Golf Course in partnership with the Hillsdale County Sheriff Department. We have had several requests for information about Hillsdale County and we are working with the EDP to assist a company with possible relocation to Hillsdale County. We also are assisting a group in planning an itinerary for their visit to Hillsdale County. A few more companies have signed up to participate in the TUF program. Please remember, this program was extended through September. Show your TUF band and SAVE while supporting Hillsdale County businesses. For the past several months, I have been serving on the Business Success Academy steering committee to bring a series of eight courses to business owners which will focus on enhancing retail success. Watch your mail for more information about this exciting educational opportunity. We are in the paginating and proofing stages of the phone directory which will be sent to the printer as soon as possible. I am certain you will pleased with the quality of this publication and appreciate the support we received from this project. We will be beginning the sales canvass for a visitor guide and map in the next several weeks. Visitor guides will be published and distributed at area hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, campgrounds and all 19 Michigan Welcome Centers among other places. If you are interested in advertising in either of these publications, please give us a call. As always, if there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us. Regards, Karri Doty, IOM President/Executive Director

A NOTE FROM

Page 3

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Megan Granda

2880 West Carleton Road Hillsdale, MI 492421

(517) 437-4730 Investment and Retirement Planning

Duke Energy Milt Howard

5555 San Felipe Houston, TX 77056

(713) 375-0632 Wind Energy Electric Utility

Kyser Construction Jason Kyser

50 Willow Street Hillsdale, MI 49242

(517) 260-4002 Contractor

Rayba’s Tennis Retreat

Ronald Rayba 8301 Coman Road Hudson, MI 49247

(517) 383-2212 Tennis and Swim Club

Recent Ribbon Cutting

Sweets for Life

75 North Howell Street - Hillsdale May 13, 2011

We welcome you to our community and wish you many years of successful business!

Chamber Lottery Tickets are currently on sale for August.

Tickets are $10 each and are good for the entire month of August. You can win

multiple times during the month.

Proceeds benefit many service organizations as well as the Chamber’s

general fund which helps sustain operations.

If you are interested in purchasing a lottery ticket, please contact any Cham-ber Board Member or call the office at

437-6401 to get yours today.

Page 4

Google’s Farmer Update: Why Great Web Content Matters Continued: From the Front cover After clicking on a result and clicking “Back” to the Google results page, Google adds a new link beside the “cached” link at the end of the listing that reads “Block all [name of site] re-sults.” Users can click this link to block the site from showing up again in their search results.

So far, Google says it will not be using the domains that users block as a ranking factor, but also said it will evaluate whether this would be useful for ranking websites in the future.

So even if you are getting good positions in Google right now, your website had better contain great content, or users could simply choose to block your website from showing up in their results – and Google will know about it. What Google ultimately does with the infor-mation remains to be seen, but don’t be surprised if it becomes a quality score or ranking signal of some sort.

Great Content is More Important Than Ever

The recent updates at Google underscores the need for your business to consistently offer high-quality, useful web content, or risk being dropped from the search results altogether. However, it also provides a unique opportunity for your business to gain significant ground in the search positions by ensuring your website has good-quality, search-friendly content on every page. If you would like your website to rise – not fall – in the search engine rankings, consider these tips:

1. If you use a content writing service or re-publish articles as content on your website, be careful. Pre-canned content (like content produced by companies like Demand Media and eHow articles) are thought to be big targets of these new Google quality initiatives.

2. If your website has old content, hasn’t been updated in a while, or has very little index-able content on the pages, it’s time to fix it. Pages with only a couple of paragraphs of text, or pages with stale content, are going to be dropped in favor of pages that have fresh content and top-quality

information, articles, and other original material.

3. Whatever else you do, your site must still be properly coded and optimized to be read and indexed correctly in the search engines, and you must have lots of quality inbound links pointing to your site. Those criteria have not changed. But now, you must also pay attention to the quality (and frequency) of the content being added to your website on a regular basis.

So if you’re not sure how (or if) the Farmer update affected your search engine rankings, now is the time to run some SEO reports and find out! (NOTE: Scan the QR code in the “Surprise SEO Discount Offer,” above, to save $100!) It is also time to make sure your website has plenty of interest-ing, high-quality information that users will find compelling. Make a plan for adding great content to your website at least monthly, and make sure that your content is fresher and of better quality than what your top competitors provide. Websites that do not have fresh, useful content are going to be dropped from the search results – don’t let your site be one of them.

The views expressed in the Commerce Connection may not necessarily reflect the views of the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce or its staff.

Page 5

Free

Seminar

Free

Dave Mills of Osseo and husband of Jeanne Mills owner of Bottom Line Business Service, was featured in the July edition of Super Chevy Magazine. The 2011 Hillsdale Academy girls track team won the MITCA Team State Championship for the second year in a row. The American Cancer Society will be hosting their annual Relay for Life June 3rd and 4th at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds Powers Clothing Inc. in Jonesville

was honored by Carhartt for being the oldest retailer of their products in the world. The Exchange Club of Hillsdale hosted the 31st Annual Book of Golden Deeds Awards Banquet honoring Robert E. Snow on Wednesday, June 1 at Johnny T’s Restaurant in Hillsdale. Roger Sprague is retiring from his position as Litchfield’s City Clerk after serving the city for nearly 32 years. Michael Potts, Superintendent for

Jonesville and Reading Community Schools, has been selected to replace retiring Superintendent Robert Henthorne at the Hillsdale County Intermediate School District. Hillsdale High School Class of 2011 cumulatively amassed almost 1.3 million dollars in scholarships awarded while other local schools and schools of their size across the state totals averaged around $600,000 in total scholarships awarded.

Page 6

S E N A T O R’ S S P T L I G H T By Senator Bruce Caswell May 31, 2011 State Budget Completion Earliest in Two Decades The Legislature finished work on the state budget on May 26, the earliest completion date for the budget since 1981. The overall budget shrank $1.2 billion from the current year budget of $47.1 billion to $45.9 billion for the 2011-12 fiscal year. While I supported the majority of the budget bills passed by the Senate, I voted no on the final School Aid Fund and higher education budgets because of the net shift of $82 million from K-12 education to the universities. I voted against the Senate-passed version of the

Department of Corrections budget because of the privatization elements that would negatively affect the prison personnel in the district I represent. The House of Representatives bundled all Senate-passed budget bills together at the end into an “omnibus” budget that I voted against because of the precedent that this sets in closing the budget process to greater input by members of the Legislature and, by extension, the citizens we represent. Michigan Fairs & Event Directory Available I have available for anyone interested, the 2011 Michigan Fairs

& Events Directory, complied by The Michigan Association of Fairs and Events. It highlights the major county fairs and festivals throughout Michigan. To obtain your copy of the 2011 Michigan Fairs & Events Directory contact Sen. Caswell, toll-free, at 1-866-305-0316, or via e-mail at SenBCaswell@senate.mi.gov. Please include your name and mailing address in any message leave or email you send. As always, my office is open to anyone seeking assistance. My toll-free phone number to my Lansing office is 1-866-305-0316 and the fax is (517) 373-5944.

Happening in

Hillsdale County

Page 7

Presented

by the Hil

lsdale County

Chamber of Commerce

June 25 & 26, 2011 Hillsdale County Fairgrounds

Car participants - enter through South Street entrance on North End of Fairgrounds

Registration

(gates open 1/2 hour prior to registration both days) Saturday - 8 AM - 11 AM & Sunday - 10 AM - 1 PM

Other show attractions include: *Rib Fest*

*Decibel Drag* *Slow Drag* *Breakfast*

*Model Car Contest* *Burn Out Contest*

*Concessions* *Silent Auction*

*Door Prizes* *Craft Show* *Swap Meet* *Car Corral”

*Live Band (Saturday Night)* AND MUCH MORE!

Win this 1972 Plymouth Duster

Tickets $10 each, 3 for $20, 9 for $50 or 25 for $100

2011 Corporate Sponsor

Register online at www.hillsdalecountychamber.com click Chamber Events, then Car Show & Summerfest, then Register for Car Show

or fill out form below and mail to: Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce

22 North Manning - Hillsdale For more information call 517-437-6401

T-Shirts to first 150 pre--registered participants & T-shirts to the first 30 Young Guns

Participant judging ends at 2 PM both days

SATURDAY Top 25 Cars & Trucks, Top 2 Motorcycles, Top Tractor,

Dealer Picks, Top Young Gun & People’s Choice

SUNDAY Top 15 Cars & Trucks, Top 2 Motorcycles, Top Tractor,

Dealer Picks, Top Young Gun & People’s Choice

Awards presented both days at 4 PM

Items on this flyer are subject to change

New this year YOUNG GUNS

For more information call 517-437-6401

FREE

ADMISSION for

car & driver

Page 8

Will New Move to Cut Government Regulation Help Small Business? By: Rieva Leonsky Source: smallbiztrends.com A longtime complaint of small business owners – that government regulations are too onerous and hamper their ability to create jobs and profits – is getting an answer of sorts. Back in January, President Obama ordered a government-wide review of regulations affecting businesses. Now, 30 federal agencies and departments have announced specific plans to reduce regulations, the Los Angeles Time reports. White House officials said they were committed to getting rid of regulations “that are out-of-date, unnecessary, excessively burdensome or in conflict with other rules.” Here are some of the changes proposed under the “21st Century Regulation” initiative: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is announcing a final rule that is estimated to remove more than

1.9 million annual hours of redundant reporting burdens on employers and save more than $40 million in annual costs. EPA has proposed eliminating the redundant obligation for many states to require air pollution vapor recovery systems at local gas stations. The regulation is unnecessary because most modern vehicles already have effective air

pollution control technologies. The change is expected to lead to annual savings for businesses of about $67 million. The State Department and the Commerce Department are taking steps to eliminate unnecessary barriers to exports, which include removing duplicative and unnecessary regulatory requirements. The goal is to increase U.S. exports and create jobs. While some of the regulatory changes have already been made, or are in the process of being finalized, most of the changes

will need to go through formal rule-writing procedures that include gathering public comments. And the comments are already flying fast and furious. The Administration’s goal is to “[protect] public health and welfare while promoting economic growth, innovation, competitiveness, and job crea-

tion.” Sounds like two great goals, right? Whether both goals can be achieved is the question. Already, there’s conflict in the business and political communities over the new proposals. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, while supporting the spirit of the White House’s ef-

forts, says the recommendations to remove some regulations did-n’t go far enough. The Natural Resources Defense Council, on the other hand, is concerned the changes may go too far and re-move protections to public health and safety. See for yourself—and please make your voice heard. After all, if you complain without taking action, you’re part of the problem. Visit The White House Regulatory Reform, to read the proposed changes and offer comments and feedback.

Page 9

June 1, 2011 I am pleased that for the first time since I began serving in the Michigan House of Representatives; a budget has been passed that is both structurally sound and fiscally balanced. In 2009, the budget process drug on and even past the deadline of our budget year, leaving our educational system, our municipalities and our social needs in limbo, facing great uncertainties in funding and direction. At that time, many said, we can and must do better. The following year was some better. We delivered for education, a budget before July 1st, while it took until the end of September to finalize the rest of the budget. With all the new members following the 2010 elections, a new administration and a determined Legislature committed themselves to having the entire fiscal year 2011 budget completed by the first of June. That has happened with even a few days to spare. From the very beginning of the year, the Legislature as a whole knew the challenges ahead were tremendous. As a result of a long and deep recession, we had grown accustomed to these challenges and were even more resolved to face them head on. Without looking back to point fingers of blame, an entirely new Governor and administration, along with dozens of new legislators began 2011 with a cautious optimism and energy focused on revitalizing Michigan’s economy. The commitment to create a more business friendly Michigan by

eliminating the complicated and burdensome Michigan Business Tax along with its surcharge would be coupled with a determination to control spending and pursue major reforms in the way the state taxes and regulates our job providers. The practice of picking winners and losers through credits and loopholes is being phased out in favor of a flat corporate tax that is more predictable, efficient and fair. This will be encouraging to our struggling businesses, put new life into those who have been cautious and be attractive to new business looking for a home. Already we are seeing a more optimistic outlook by many of our local businesses as well as others throughout the state. This new direction is the basis of the 2011/2012 balanced budget. It is based on real known dollars, not projections, anticipations, one time funding gimmicks or stimulus money. A very deliberate process has been ongoing to arrive at this budget that began with real spending reductions of 1.1 BILLION dollars. While the cuts to areas such as State Police, Dept. of Human Services, School Aid, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Corrections and most every other department are significant, they are not as steep as first proposed due to the fact that in the first quarter of this year, tax dollars to the state increased by nearly $500,000,000.00. This helped to soften some cuts and also provide much needed shoring up of the Budget Stabilization Fund or “rainy day fund.” Funding was also set aside in a reserve fund for the ongoing need of the public school

employee pension fund. This approach represents what I believe is a fiscally responsible means to helping stabilize our state budget for the still uncertain economic future. I am pleased to see that there will be no reductions in state police troopers although some consolidations and closing of offices will occur. There has been roughly $30 Million added to revenue sharing throughout the state for our local government needs. Funding for Medicaid reimbursement for our seniors has been increased. Also, language was included in this budget that prohibits state funding from being used to encourage or provide abortion services. Because there are significant cuts in the upcoming budget, there will be significant adjustments. The people of Michigan have been through some very difficult times within the past decade which is evident by the tremendous job loss, home foreclosure and our stubbornly high unemployment rate. We have gone from near the top to near the bottom. Committing to what we know we have and funding our essential responsibilities, along with setting an appropriate amount back in a realistic savings account while putting some dollars toward our debt is a fiscally responsible and prudent approach. This is exactly what we have to do and have been doing in our homes and businesses when our times are uncertain. I believe we are on our way back, but our climb will be slow. We cannot be what we were until our people find jobs. We

K O R N E R

E N’ S A message from State Representative Ken Kurtz

Member Checklist

Attend a Business After Hours

Attend a Hello Hillsdale County Breakfast/Lunch

Place business cards and/or brochures in the Chamber Office

Place an ad in the Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce Phone Directory

Participated in the Chamber TUF program

Supported a fellow Chamber member by purchasing a product or service from a member

cannot fund our needed areas until we have paychecks instead of unemployment checks. We must be cautious and live within our means while paying down our debt and controlling spending. To have an effective public sector we need a vibrant private sector. I am confident as we grow jobs back in Michigan we will grow back the important areas of our public sector. As this Legislature is committed to live within its means it is also committed to positioning this state to be the leader once again in every area. Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this capacity during these times. As always feel free to contact me through my office at 517-373-1794. Kenneth Kurtz Michigan 58th District State Representative

Page 10

Small Business Tech News You Can Use Source: smallbiztrends.com Small business is using technology like never before to create opportunities and leverage resources. Your small business is probably bigger these days because of technology. But if you’re not sure what else is out there or how it can help you, invest a few minutes with us. We think you’ll find at least one tool or one idea that will help you transform your business forever. And please feel free to share thoughts, ideas, tools and resources in the comment section below. Lets use this roundup as a resource page for incredible small business tools. Share it with a friend and watch the resources grow.

Mobile Edith Yeung’s ginormous mobile app list for business. Just how big is it? Try 65 small business mobile applications in all with links and brief feature information. If you can’t find something here to make your small business easier to oper-ate, you’re just not looking. We hope you find something here or refer the link to a friend. Small Business Trends

WordPress 22 Word Press plug-ins for the marketing mastermind. If you’re online marketing and using the WordPress platform, you’ll want to take a look at this list, especially if you aren’t yet familiar with some of the plug-ins included. WordPress is a powerful tool and the availability of plug-ins can help you take your online WordPress marketing to the next level. Monkeydo Marketing

Social Media Why a social media bubble doesn’t mean the end of social media marketing. As stated in the video that begins this post, many in the investment world seem to be getting the distinct feeling that LinkedIn (and perhaps Facebook when it finally goes public) may be too highly valued leading to another tech bubble. What does this mean to your small business? Absolutely nothing. Read on. Fitzternet

Blogging “Exterminate, Exterminate.” The words of the terrifying Daleks from the classic Doctor Who series are what should be running through your mind when examining your business blog for what belongs and what does not. Is a particular prominent element adding nothing to the blog’s content or your potential revenue? If so, you know what to

do. ”Exterminate” things that don’t work on your blog so you can make room for things that do. Start To Blog

Birth of the business blog. Small Business Trends founder Anita Campbell talks about the growth of the business blog in the context of her own online publishing business model. There are many more small business blogs around than when Anita started out. How will you set your content apart? Grind & Thrive

E-commerce Online selling at the speed of light. In this post, Christina Giliberti looks at the brave new world of e-commerce in a brand new way. What are you doing to control every aspect of the sales process at your online store? Not nearly enough, we suspect. Bloggertone

Twitter New Twitter Follow Button a game changer? Well, some people think so, it seems. Here’s a post from Cendrin Marrouat about the new microblogging feature. Have you begun to incorporate the Twitter Follow Button into your day-to-day? What do you think about the new tool? examiner.com

Continued on page 11

Page 11

3” x 2 ½” ad in Commerce Connection

ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) $25

12 ads (one per month) - 4 changes per year $175

3” x 5” ad in Commerce Connection

ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) $42.50

12 ads (one per month) - 4 changes per year $410

3” x 7 ½” ad in Commerce Connection

ad provided by you (jpeg or PDF format) $60

12 ads - one per month - 4 changes per year $510

E-mail blast E-mail blasts will be sent once per week -

$35 per blast

In-

serts Chamber composes & prints - (black print & 1 side) $165.00 (exclusive - no other inserts)

You compose & supply 250 copies, Chamber

inserts & mails $125.00 (exclusive - no other inserts)

Chamber composes & prints

(black print & 1 side) $115.00 (with other inserts)

You compose & supply 250 copies,

Chamber inserts & mails $75.00 - Month (with other inserts)

$25 for ads created by Chamber

Color printing - $25

Colored paper - $10

Second side printing - $10 black and white & $25 color

2011 Advertising & Insertion Rates

Small Business Tech News You Can Use Continued from page 10 Facebook 10 tips for Facebook mar-keting. Facebook is one of the most powerful communication tools, now also a huge tool for small business marketing. As a result, you’ll want to take full advantage of the platform for your small business too. Certainly many people have already been on Facebook and created a profile. Here’s how to take your Facebook campaign to the next level. Travel Blackboard

Could Facebook be the new

business network choice? With the buzz over LinkedIn’s initial public offering on Wall Street comes news that some believe Facebook, with its broader user base, may be the true choice for

career networking in the future. With small businesses already

focused on Facebook for B2C marketing, can business networking and B2B be far behind? WSJ

Conclusion Whay the future holds. It’s probably not surprising that all these tools will transform the world completely. But what form will this new world take? And what will it mean for business and everything else including the culture in which your future customers live. Avi Solomon interviews Seth Godin for some broad answers. Check the comment section for the usual boatload of naysayers. boingboing

Have a topic you would like more information on or know of an article

that could benefit your fellow Chamber Members?

Send your requests via email to

Jon - jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com with any topic requests or articles you

wish to share and we will do our best to publish the information in the

Commerce Connection.

When submitting articles please include the author and source so that

permission can be obtained for the usage of the material.

Tune in to WCSR the 4th

Thursday of every month for Chamber Chat.

Listen to updates from the

Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about Chamber benefits, program and

services offered, as well as Chamber event updates.

Brought to you by your Hillsdale

County Chamber of Commerce.

Page 12

Leads Lunch

Warner’s Family Restaurant 3380 Beck Road - Hillsdale

June 23, 2011

11:45 AM - lunch buffet Join with us for a fun and energetic networking lunch! Attend

for the opportunity to connect with other individuals doing business in our community.

Bring your business cards and be ready for a productive & fun time!

Contact Jon at (517) 437-6401 or via e-mail at jon@hillsdalecountychamber.com

Pre-payment or payment at time of lunch is requested

An additional $2 fee will be added for those being billed or for those without an RSVP. Cancellations prior to 48 hours and no–shows will be billed $12.

RSVP by June 20, 2011

$10

Lunch

Buffet

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www.jacksmithagency 800-485-1318

535 Marshall Litchfield, MI 49252

517-542-2946

Page 13

How to Overcome the Fear of Failure Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Failure When Starting a Business By: Alyssa Gregory Source: About.com Starting a business isn't easy. There are so many things to do, research, test and explore before you can take the plunge. When you add the fear of failure to the mix, it's no surprise that many aspiring small business owners never get their businesses off the ground. Fear of failure can be paralyzing. It can make you question what you're doing and why you're doing it. Fear can cause you to over plan, and never take the first step. It can eat away at your confidence, and eventually, leave you feeling incapable of taking action. But fear can also be motivating. When you know what you're reaching for, and are aware of the fear that might hold you back, you can take steps to use the uncertainty and worry to propel yourself forward. If you're starting a business or on the brink of another significant accomplishment, use these tips to overcome the fear of failure and push through to success.

Do Your Research

Fear of failure can often be exacerbated when there is a lengthy list of unknowns. While you can't possibly have every piece of relevant information, arming yourself with the most important data and using it to make smarter decisions can help allevi-ate the fear of failing.

Having access to information, and being "in the know" can be empowering.

One thing to be cautious of when researching and gathering information is not focusing so much on data that you lose sight of the purpose. It is possible to become so enthralled in the research stage that you enter a passive, stationary mode, and have an even harder time taking action. Be diligent and thorough when gathering information, but keep it in perspective.

Create a Solid Plan

Writing a business plan isn't easy, but it is usually well worth the time you put into it. An effective plan can help you take an idea from the earliest stage and create a thriving business. It can act as your roadmap by guiding you through the entire business startup and growth process.

Setting goals can also be an effective way to stick to a plan and eliminate some of the fear. Breaking down your larger goals into small action steps and using the SMART goal setting method can be effective ways to use planning to reduce the fear of failure.

Identify a Plan B

Some may say that creating a contingency plan sets you up for failure, but in reality, having a fall-back plan can make it easier to take a chance. When you start a business, you are taking a measured risk, and by considering the possible outcomes and planning for them accordingly, you can build confidence and be secure in your decisions.

It's also important to note that your Plan B doesn't have to focus solely on an alternative course that you will take if you are to fail. Your Plan B can be a way for you to consider and plan for alternative paths to your end goal. This can give you flexibility and help you make adjustments to your primary goal as you go through the process.

Consider the Price of Inaction

Envisioning what may happen if you don't take a chance by striving for your goal and starting a business can be a powerful motivator. The thought of what it may feel like, now and in the future, to know that you had a dream to start a business and never took the leap may be enough to push you past the fear.

Get Support

When you do something alone, it's easy to get stuck inside your own head. The uncertainty, questions and fear of failure can be overwhelming when you don't have a support system to join you on your journey. Your support system could be a business partner, spouse, mentor, coach, friend or local networking group. As long as your support system boosts your confidence, helps you think objectively and cheers you on, you can often reduce the fear of failure because you know you are not alone.

Fear is not a bad thing. It can make you work harder, prepare more and enjoy your success fully. If you're starting a business and feel overcome by a fear of failure, trying letting go and embracing the challenge, and you may be surprised where it takes you.

Chamber Testimonials

A business owner called to find out if you had to charge sales tax on gift certificates. Karri responded sales tax should not be collected on gift certificate purchases. The business owner

thanked Karri for the information and stated she calls the Chamber whenever she has questions about her business and finds the Chamber very helpful.

Page 14

Architectural Award sponsored by

Jonesville Lumber The nominees were: the City of Hillsdale – Dial A Ride Building, Martinrea, Olivia’s Chop House,

Classic Cuts Plus and Stocks Park. Congratulations to

Martinrea

Business Person of the Year sponsored by

WCSR The nominees were: Richard Moore,

Larry Richards, Eric Leutheuser, Rich Galloway, Eric Hoffman

and Wayne Babcock. Congratulations to Rich Galloway

Chamber Mission Award sponsored by

County National Bank The nominees were:

Wayne Babcock, Dr. Jeffrey Horton, Mike Flynn & WCSR, Jill Taylor,

Scott Phillips, Joe Sanford and Rich Galloway. Congratulations to

Mike Flynn & WCSR

Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by

Wolverine Abstract & Title Company The nominees were: Kevin Conant,

Rick & Tammy Tropiano, Wayne Babcock, Jill Hardway,

Jonna Macy and Penny Wingate.

Congratulations to Wayne Babcock

Chairperson’s Award sponsored by

Layman’s Service Center Congratulations to

Karri Doty & Cyndi Young Non-Profit of the Year

sponsored by

Hillsdale County United Way Nominees were: Community Action Agency, Kimball Camp, Hospice of

Hillsdale County, In the Key Consignment & Store, Kiwanis Club

of Hillsdale, Hillsdale County Agricultural Society, South Central Michigan Works, Men with Vision, King’s Kupboard, St. Peters Free

Clinic & Hillsdale County Community Foundation

Congratulations to Hillsdale County

Agricultural Society

Renovation Award sponsored by

Jonesville Lumber The nominees were:

Key Opportunities – In the Key Consignment Store,

Sanders Insurance, Here’s to you Pub & Grub, Classic Cuts Plus Salon & Spa, Johnny T’s Bistro, Auto Value,

Hillside Lanes, Gallery 49, Macuso’s/Yum Ez’s,

Jonesville Printing, Friendly Tavern, X-Pressions, Mulberry Lane, Olivia’s

Chop House, Toasted Mud and Trevethan’s Sweep & Sew.

Congratulations to Classic Cuts Plus Salon & Spa

Small Business of the Year sponsored by

Nonik Technologies The nominees were: Current Office Solutions, Performance Automotive,

Therapeutic Massage, Johnny T’s Bistro, G & G Glass, Moore Insurance Services, Saucy

Dog’s BBQ and Olivia’s Chop House Congratulations to

Current Office Solutions Volunteer of the Year

sponsored by S & S Trophy

Congratulations to

Tina Stevenson

Special Recognition Volunteer of the Year

sponsored by S & S Trophy

Congratulations to Rosie Dryer

& Nancy LoPresto

Special Recognition Awards • Autowares

• Bumper to Bumper Service Centers

• Century 21 Action Associates Joe Sanford

• County National Bank • Current Office Solutions

• Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities • Hillsdale College

• Hillsdale Community Health Center

• Hillsdale County Community Foundation

• Hillsdale Daily News • Hillsdale Market House

• Layman’s Service Center • Nash Drugs

• Performance Automotive of Hillsdale & Jonesville

• Southern Michigan Bank & Trust • Stillwell Ford

• WCSR

The Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors & Staff wish to recognize the following nominees and congratulate the award recipients for their accomplishments in 2010 as they were

honored at the 25th Annual Business Celebration Dinner & Awards Presentation

Joe San-ford…………………………………………...........Chairperson Century 21 Action Associates Cyndi Young Vice Chairper-son WCSR Jeff Layman Member At Large Layman’s Service Center Raymond Lee………………………………….…….Member At Large Raymond Lee Custom Carpentry Eric Potes…………………………………………………….Treasurer County National Bank Scott Phillips Board Mem-ber

Coldwell Banker Michael Lee Thorp Board Mem-ber The Plant Nook Florist Karri Doty President/Executive Director

2011 Board of Directors

2011 Chamber Partner Member

2011 Chamber Associate Members

County National Bank

Hillsdale County Chamber of Commerce

22 North Manning Hillsdale, MI 49242

Phone: 517-437-6401

Fax: 517-437-6408 E-mail:

info@hillsdalecountychamber.com

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